Bukit Merese
Bukit Merese is a rolling green headland between Tanjung Aan and Batu Payung, and it delivers the single best view on Lombok's south coast for about fifteen minutes of effort.
The walk up is on grass, not rock — a gentle path through grazing land, cows included, that most people manage in flip-flops. From the top you get roughly 270 degrees of coastline: cliffs dropping into turquoise water, the long sweep of Tanjung Aan behind you, and the Indian Ocean running out to the horizon. In the dry season the hill is golden; after the rains it turns a startling green.
It has become the south coast's sunset ritual, and deservedly so. The trick that most visitors miss is that the hill has more than one summit. Almost everyone stops at the first rise, five minutes up, where the crowd and the drone noise concentrate. Keep walking out along the ridge to the far knoll and the numbers thin dramatically, while the view gets better.
There is no shade at the top and the grass gets slippery when dry, so proper shoes help on the descent. Bring a torch: tropical dusk is fast, and the path back down is unlit.
Travel tips for Bukit Merese
- Arrive about 45 minutes before sunset. That gives you time to walk out to the far knoll and settle before the light goes.
- Walk past the first rise. The best viewpoint is the second one along the ridge and it is markedly quieter.
- Bring a torch or use your phone. There is no lighting and dusk here lasts minutes, not an hour.
- Parking is usually IDR 10,000–20,000. There is no ticket office for the hill itself.
- No shade, no water for sale at the top. Bring a bottle, especially if you have come straight from the beach.
- Watch your footing on dry grass — it is more slippery going down than it looks going up.
Popular tours here
- South Lombok Tour: Kuta, Tanjung Aan & Pink Beach
- Lombok Private Tour with Local Guide & Driver
Frequently asked questions
How long is the walk up Bukit Merese?
About fifteen minutes on a gentle grass path, with no scrambling — most visitors do it comfortably in beach footwear.
Is there an entrance fee for Bukit Merese?
There is no formal ticket, but a parking fee of roughly IDR 10,000–20,000 is usually collected at the bottom.
What is the best time to visit Bukit Merese?
Late afternoon for sunset, arriving around 45 minutes beforehand; sunrise is quiet but the light works against you because the view faces largely west and south.
How far is Bukit Merese from Kuta Lombok?
About 20 minutes by road, immediately past Tanjung Aan on the same coastal route.
Is Bukit Merese crowded?
The first rise gets busy at sunset, but walking out along the ridge to the far knoll leaves most of the crowd behind.